English Heritage has refused to support a request for a Nottingham baths to be granted heritage status despite a local campaign to save it from closure.
The organisation said the Victoria Baths had undergone too many structural changes to warrant special protection.
Ian Wells from the Nottingham Civic Society, which opposes the closure, said the decision was a setback.
The city council has said the centre, built in 1896, was no longer fit for modern purposes.
English Heritage said the building was "locally important" but had been altered too much to have special architectural or historic interest in the national context.
Mr Wells said: "We are still fighting to save the essential elements of the building - including the historic pool inside."
Nottingham City Council said it would continue to work with the local community to develop proposals for a replacement leisure centre for the area.
The historic aspects of the building would be considered "sensitively" as options were considered, a spokesman said.
Up to £7m has been pledged for the replacement.
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